Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan said that it’s a “given” that the next actor to play 007 should be British. This comes amid fears that the iconic franchise may lose its British identity following Amazon MGM Studios’ acquisition of creative control over the character.
In February, the American film and TV production and distribution studio announced a co-ownership deal with Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who have been producing the Bond films since Brosnan’s debut in 1995’s GoldenEye. Brosnan shared his thoughts on the matter with The Telegraph, stating: “I thought it was coming for some time, I guess, but I think it was the right decision for Barbara and Michael. It takes great courage for them to let go, they will still have a say in matters, I hope that (Amazon) handles the work and the character with dignity and imagination and respect.”
The Irish actor, 71, who portrayed Bond in four films, admitted that “no one really knows” what direction Amazon will take with the character. “In this world that is moving so fast now, at the speed of light, (the change) does come with a certain lament,” he reflected.
Speculation about the future of the series has been rife, with no announcement of a new actor to step into the role since Daniel Craig’s final performance in 2021’s No Time To Die.
“History has been passed on and I’m very proud to have been part of the history and the legacy of Bond and the movies that I made with Barbara and Michael”, Brosnan concluded.
Renowned actor Pierce Brosnan fondly reflected on his contribution to the James Bond legacy: “That we moved the needle, that we brought it back to life. It had been dormant (for) six years and GoldenEye was such a success that it continued and went from strength to strength … I wish them well.”
Cast as 007 in GoldenEye at the dawn of Broccoli and Wilson’s creative control, Brosnan’s final appearance as the suave spy was in 2002’s Die Another Day.
Since Dr No, the inaugural Bond film in 1962, the reins of the official franchise have been held by the American-British Broccoli family or through collaborations, sometimes with Broccoli and her half-brother Wilson at the helm.
The duo has produced the last nine Bond films, including Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Spectre, and No Time To Die, earning CBEs and snatching the outstanding British film Bafta for Skyfall in 2012 under director Sir Sam Mendes.
Following Amazon’s acquisition of MGM in 2022, thus gaining distribution rights for the Bond films, they now wield control over the IP rights associated with the iconic secret agent.
2023 saw the release of the Bond-themed Prime Video game show 007: Road To A Million, hosted by Succession’s Brian Cox, which is already gearing up for its second series.
The Wall Street Journal has reported previous tensions between Broccoli and Amazon MGM Studios regarding the extent of creative control, with Broccoli allegedly cautioning, “don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions”.
Rumours have surfaced with reports suggesting that Amazon MGM Studios is looking to stretch the Bond brand beyond the silver screen and into television series and additional projects.
In a recent appearance on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, actress Valerie Leon, known for her roles in the James Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and Never Say Never Again, commented on the development by saying: “The Bond franchise was very British and it won’t be anymore,” after the moves by Amazon MGM Studios were publicised.
Further fuelling the discussion, The Mail on Sunday disclosed that an internal memo from the company has explicitly stated that Bond’s gender and nationality are set to remain unchanged.